West Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Botolphs
Get a clear view of the chimney stack at a property in Botolphs from an independent roof surveyor. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Worn or missing pointing
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
What we do, step by step
There is not much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will take it from there. The survey itself takes about 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. For a village or hamlet like Botolphs, the journey is planned beforehand: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect everything that’s safely in view, inside and out.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- We look at every stack from wherever it can safely be seen.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the roof space.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
How to prepare
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Tell us about parking before the day
How to book
When you are ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Related advice
Chimney survey in Botolphs
A leaning chimney stack is worth having looked at. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down, frequently after years of flue gases and damp. We record the lean and the condition of the brickwork and pointing. If the stack looks like a structural issue, the report recommends a structural engineer. If you’re worried about damaged chimney pots and cowls and worn or missing pointing, we can find out what’s behind it.
In a village or hamlet like Botolphs, older cottages and farmhouses frequently sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, frequently with chimneys that have stood a long time. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. On older roofs, it’s normally the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
We keep jargon out of it: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, along with how urgent it is.
- Where
- Botolphs (BN44)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Nearby places to Botolphs
More services for Botolphs
What a chimney survey looks like in Botolphs
Botolphs is within about 4 miles of the coast, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, while gales work at loose ridges, slates and tiles, while driving rain finds any gap. Older houses across Sussex frequently have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
Anyone responsible for a site like Upper Beeding Primary School will know that long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle. If you own a rental within reach of Shoreham-By-Sea station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Botolphs is about 3 miles north-west of Shoreham-by-Sea, in West Sussex. We visit Botolphs as part of our work across West Sussex. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex, large and small. You can also see our page for Brighton.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: BN44. If you are just outside Botolphs, we cover Upper Beeding (1 mile north-east), Bramber (1 mile north), Steyning (1 mile north-west), Sompting (3 miles south-west) and Lancing (3 miles south). Larger places within reach include Horsham (13 miles north), Worthing (5 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (13 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (10 miles north-east), Littlehampton (11 miles south-west) and Shoreham-by-Sea (3 miles south-east).
Landmarks near Botolphs
We work in homes and buildings around Steyning Grammar School and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Shoreham-By-Sea station, roughly 3.2 miles south-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Steyning Museum (1.3 miles north-west) and Old Castle (4.9 miles south-west). The countryside around Botolphs includes Steep Down and Mill Hill.
What we cannot see
Before you book, it is worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Lead flashings
- Flaunching
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
Why get it checked now?
A leaning stack should be looked at sooner rather than later. We record its condition and recommend a structural engineer where needed, so you know where you stand. In a small place like Botolphs, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
Why book us in Botolphs
- Clear package prices, with VAT included
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or our case studies.
FAQs for Botolphs
Is my home in Botolphs listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Botolphs, take more of a battering?
Frequently, yes. Botolphs is within about 4 miles of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only when it is safe. Some roofs are too steep or fragile to walk on safely. We use safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where applicable.
Are you insured?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
When does the report arrive?
It depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day. The report is emailed to you.
Does the report include photos?
Yes, plenty. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible, which makes the report easy to follow.
Should a redundant chimney be removed?
There’s no single answer. We record how the stack is doing and whether it’s capped with ventilation. If you’re thinking of removing it, check with the council first in a conservation area or on a listed building.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Botolphs
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Bigger roofs take more time, and they’re priced for the size.
Common roof problems in Botolphs
Flashings seal the gap where a stack passes through the roof. They can lift in wind, crack with age or pull out of the mortar joints. When flashings fail, water often shows up in the loft or on the chimney breast. Lead flashings can also be stolen.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
With Portslade Manor about 4.6 miles south-east, the area around Botolphs has a long history. If your home is one of the older ones, the roof may have been repaired many times, and the survey records how each part is holding up.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That’s where a survey comes in.